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The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, the car that kicked off the current “four-door coupe” craze, is getting a new look and significant updates for 2015.

It retains the high-waisted, small side-window look of a sports car, which is Mercedes’ premise for referring to this four-door as a “coupe” instead of a sedan. For the 2015 model year, the front end is restyled, making the midsize CLS look like a larger version of its hip younger sibling, the CLA-Class.

More important than the styling tweaks, however, is the addition of a new model called the CLS400. It features a brand new engine never used before on a U.S.-spec Mercedes. The CLS400’s twin-turbocharged V6 engine produces 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.

Previously, the CLS was only available with a choice of two V8 engines, both of which carry over to the 2015 CLS550 and CLS63 AMG. While these engines provide thrilling acceleration—0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds for the CLS550 and a mind-warping 3.7 seconds for the CLS63 AMG—they inevitably chug fuel. The 2014 CLS550 gets an estimated 20 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving, while the CLS63 AMG 4Matic gets 18 miles per gallon overall.

Mercedes has not released specs yet for the new 2015 CLS models, but it’s safe to say that the CLS400 will get better fuel economy than the V8-powered models, thanks to its downsized engine. Another advantage of the CLS400 is that it will likely have a lower starting price than the CLS550, which currently is the least expensive CLS model, with a suggested retail price of $72,100.

The CLS550 will also be getting better fuel economy for 2015, thanks to the addition of a new nine-speed automatic transmission, which has two more gears than the automatic in the current CLS. The extra gears allow the engine to operate more efficiently over a broader range of speeds.

The 2015 CLS550 will be the first Mercedes sold in the United States with this new nine-speed transmission, though it will be offered only on the rear-wheel drive version at first. The nine-speed will eventually be offered on the other CLS models as well, though Mercedes has not said when that will be.

Mercedes is making a big to-do about the 2015 CLS-Class’ new "multibeam" headlights. Each one uses 24 light emitting diodes, or LEDs. A camera in the windshield calculates the ideal amount of light and the best pattern necessary to illuminate the road ahead without blinding oncoming drivers. It makes calculations 100 times per second so the headlights vary their brightness automatically depending on road conditions and traffic.

2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS500 (Credit: Mercedes)

The low beams are also high-tech. They pivot up to 12 degrees to illuminate around turns. This feature alone is not new. But unlike previous systems, which only pivot the headlights when the steering wheel is turned, Mercedes’ new multibeam lights are predictive. They use the camera in the windshield to detect curves and thus pivot to illuminate the road before the driver even turns the steering wheel.

Another predictive safety feature that comes standard on all 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS models is Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which can avoid collision through autonomous braking.

The interior of the 2015 CLS gets only minor cosmetic tweaks. One significant upgrade, though, is an optional Comand Online infotainment system that allows Internet surfing when the car is parked, provided a Bluetooth-capable phone with a data plan is connected. Mercedes says Comand Online is compatible with most smartphones.

Despite the changes for 2015, the Mercedes CLS-Class remains the same at its core: a “four-door coupe” that offers a sleeker look than the similarly sized Mercedes E-Class, at the expense of rear-seat headroom and legroom. Basically, it’s a four-door Mercedes for people who would rather have a two-door, but need something a bit more convenient.

The 2015 models launch in the fall and include the following: CLS400, CLS400 4Matic CLS550 ($73,200), CLS550 4Matic ($75,700) and CLS63 AMG S-Model 4Matic ($106,500). Pricing for the CLS400 models has not been announced.